As many of the councillors on the parish’s joint burial committee declined to discuss details ahead of this meeting, it has emerged taxpayers might have to foot the bill for any possible claim for compensation. The News and Mail has seen a document dated November 19 indicating a plot that had been reserved by the bereaved son who wanted to be buried next to his mother in Chobham cemetery had been filled with the body of a stranger. Other documents suggest the committee will have to pay compensation to the son for the distress caused by the matter. John Medhurst, one of the two parish councillors from West End who sit on the joint burial committee, said: “It is an embarrassing situation and we are still not 100 per cent sure what went wrong. “It is a very unpleasant situation that has occurred and we are very embarrassed by it. All we can do is apologise to the people in question.” Cllr Pat Tedder, chairman of the committee, received an email from Chobham parish clerk Chris Chaney on November 17. In the email, Mr Chaney explained the bereaved son had purchased exclusive rights of burial for the plot adjacent to his mother in October but a body was buried in that plot in early November. The son paid £500 for the plot. Mr Chaney outlined four options that could rectify the situation, including the exhumation of the body buried in the wrong plot. The other options were the son be eventually buried in the plot next but one from his mother, the man take a plot in front of — rather than adjacent to — his mother or the man be refunded and “alternative arrangements” be made. Cllr Tedder replied to Mr Chaney on November 19 saying she assumed Mr Chaney had written to the grieving son to offer their sincere apologies and inform him they were looking into the situation. She also wrote that the committee should not suggest the exhumation of the mis-buried body out of compassion for the deceased’s relatives. She added: “I trust at this stage we have not involved the family?” Cllr Tedder recommended the plot at the foot of the mother’s grave be reserved for the son and that she, Mr Chaney and vice-chairman of the burial committee Cllr Tony Hardcastle meet on November 22 to discuss the issue. At that meeting, Mr Chaney agreed to investigate what the exhumation of a body involved. Cllr Tedder agreed to write a letter of apology to the bereaved son and inform her committee colleagues. It was also agreed a full report be given to the committee at its January 24 meeting. On November 29 Mr Chaney received a letter from the bereaved son’s solicitors informing him the man expected compensation and seeking clarification of the facts. In an email dated December 2, Mr Chaney informed Cllr Tedder about the solicitor’s letter. He stated he was willing to draft a response. All members of the committee agreed the matter was regrettable but declined to comment on the specifics of the matter. Cllr Tedder said last week: “It will all come out at the meeting. I am not aware of any major problems. There will be no suggestion of a cover-up.” The meeting starts at 8pm on Tuesday at the Valley End Institute, Highams Lane, Chobham.]]